I don't see how appealing to people like Gordon Melton and James Lewis (who defended Japanese terrorist (sarin gas) cult, Aum Shrinikyo)  is going to help.  Melton went to Tokyo for the purpose of defending Aum's freedom of religion and flew there at Aum's expense.  What's next?  Are these "scholars" like Melton, Lewis, et al, going to defend al Qaeda's right to bomb buildings around the world in the name of religious freedom?  These people are outrageous.

Melton has stated flat out that he disbelieves apostates.  Further, if people like Melton and Lewis continue to interfere with academic publishing, but when that is exposed and they['re criticized about it, they run to their own corners (CESNUR, Introvigne, Barker) instead of setting the records straight, as real scientists would do, well, I don't see the point in making an appeal to them.  Plus, the Apologetics Index does a fine job of exposing these frauds.

Personally, I don't need to depend on folks like that to establish my credibility, especially cult members who use Wikipedia to further their cult-causes, using these highly questionable "academics."  Yes, they anger me by using those flawed and bad resources, but I know what the truth is about Prem Rawat, and his cult.  I don't need Gordon Melton, et al, to verify it for me.

Having said that, if you set such a website up, I'd gladly endorse it, Andries.